Mandevilla plant named &#34;lanvirginia&#34;

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct cultivar of  Mandevilla  plant named ‘Lanvirginia’, characterized by its upright and twining plant habit; moderately vigorous to vigorous growth habit; glossy dark green-colored leaves; freely flowering habit; and pink-colored flowers with red purple-colored centers.

Botanical designation: Mandevilla×amabilis×Mandevilla boliviensis.

Cultivar denomination: ‘LANVIRGINIA’.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar of Mandevilla plant, botanically known as Mandevilla×amabilis×Mandevilla boliviensis and hereinafter referred to by the name ‘Lanvirginia’.

The new Mandevilla plant is a product of a planned breeding program conducted by the Inventor in Malause, France. The objective of the breeding program is to create new Mandevilla plants with good plant habit and numerous attractive flowers. The new Mandevilla plant originated from a cross-pollination conducted by the Inventor in Malause, France in 2009 of Mandevilla×amabilis×Mandevilla boliviensis ‘Sunmandeho’, disclosed in U.S. Plant Pat. No. 11,556, as the female, or seed, parent with a proprietary selection of Mandevilla×amabilis×Mandevilla boliviensis identified as code number Si-06-850-12, not patented, as the male, or pollen, parent. The new Mandevilla plant was discovered and selected by the Inventor as a single flowering plant from within the progeny of the stated cross-pollination in a controlled greenhouse environment in Malause, France in 2013.

Asexual reproduction of the new Mandevilla plant by cuttings in a controlled greenhouse environment in Malause, France, since 2014 has shown that the unique features of this new Mandevilla plant are stable and reproduced true to type in successive generations.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Plants of the new Mandevilla have not been observed under all possible combinations of environmental conditions and cultural practices. The phenotype may vary somewhat with variations in environmental conditions such as temperature and light intensity without, however, any variance in genotype.

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined to be the unique characteristics of ‘Lanvirginia’. These characteristics in combination distinguish ‘Lanvirginia’ as a new and distinct Mandevilla plant:

-   -   1. Upright and twining plant habit.     -   2. Moderately vigorous growth habit.     -   3. Glossy dark green-colored leaves.     -   4. Freely flowering habit.     -   5. Pink-colored flowers with red purple-colored centers.

Plants of the new Mandevilla can be compared to plants of the female parent, ‘Sunmandeho’. Plants of the new Mandevilla differ primarily from plants of ‘Sunmandeho’ in plant habit as plants of ‘Sunmandeho’ have a climbing type habit whereas plants of the new

Mandevilla do not have a climbing type habit. In addition, plants of the new Mandevilla and ‘Sunmandeho’ differ in flower color as plants of ‘Sunmandeho’ have yellowish white-colored flowers.

Plants of the new Mandevilla can be compared to plants of the male parent selection. Plants of the new Mandevilla differ primarily from plants of the male parent selection in flower color as plants of the male parent selection have lighter pink-colored flowers.

Plants of the new Mandevilla can also be compared to plants of Mandevilla sanderi ‘Lansouthcarolina’, disclosed in U.S. Plant patent application Ser. No. 13/998,545. In side-by-side comparisons conducted in Malause, France, plants of the new Mandevilla differed primarily from plants ‘Lansouthcarolina’ in flower color as plants of ‘Lansouthcarolina’ have lighter pink-colored flowers.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS

The accompanying colored photographs illustrate the overall appearance of the new Mandevilla plant showing the colors as true as it is reasonably possible to obtain in colored reproductions of this type. Colors in the photographs may differ slightly from the color values cited in the detailed botanical description which accurately describe the actual colors of the new Mandevilla plant. The photograph on the first sheet comprises a side perspective view of a typical flowering plant of ‘Lanvirginia’ grown in a container. The photograph on the second sheet is a close-up view of a typical flower of ‘Lanvirginia’.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

The aforementioned photographs and following observations, measurements and values describe plants grown during the spring and early summer in 17-cm containers in polyethylene-covered greenhouse in Malause, France and under cultural practices typical of commercial Mandevilla production. During the production of the plants, day temperatures ranged from 15° C. to 26° C. and night temperatures ranged from 14° C. to 15° C. Plants were six months old when the photographs and description were taken. In the following description, color references are made to The Royal Horticultural Society Colour Chart, 2007 Edition, except where general terms of ordinary dictionary significance are used.

-   Botanical classification: Mandevilla×amabilis×Mandevilla boliviensis     ‘Lanvirginia’. -   Parentage:     -   -   Female, or seed, parent.—Mandevilla×amabilis×Mandevilla             boliviensis ‘Sunmandeho’, disclosed in U.S. Plant Pat. No.             11,556.         -   Male, or pollen, parent.—Proprietary selection of             Mandevilla×amabilis×Mandevilla boliviensis identified as             code number Si-06-850-12, not patented. -   Propagation:     -   -   Type.—By vegetative cuttings.         -   Time to initiate roots, summer.—About two weeks at             temperatures about 23° C. to 30° C.         -   Time to initiate roots, winter.—About three weeks at             temperatures about 23° C. to 25° C.         -   Time to produce a rooted young plant, summer.—About five to             six weeks at temperatures about 23° C. to 30° C.         -   Time to produce a rooted young plant, winter.—About six to             eight weeks at temperatures about 23° C. to 25° C.         -   Root description.—Fibrous, fine; typically light yellowish             white in color, actual color of the roots is dependent on             substrate composition, water quality, fertilizers, substrate             temperature and physiological age of roots.         -   Rooting habit.—Freely branching; medium density. -   Plant description:     -   -   Plant and growth habit.—Upright and twining plant habit;             narrowly upright; moderately vigorous growth habit.         -   Plant height.—About 34.7 cm.         -   Plant diameter (spread).—About 46.3 cm.         -   Lateral branch description.—Branching habit: Moderately             freely branching habit with about nine lateral branches             developing per plant; pinching enhances lateral branch             development. Length: About 23.4 cm. Diameter: About 3 mm.             Internode length: About 4.9 cm. Strength: Strong. Texture             and luster: Smooth, glabrous; moderately glossy. Color:             Close to 143C. -   Leaf description:     -   -   Arrangement.—Opposite, simple.         -   Length.—About 9.9 cm.         -   Width.—About 6.3 cm.         -   Shape.—Ovate to oblong.         -   Apex.—Short apiculate.         -   Base.—Cordate.         -   Margin.—Entire; undulate.         -   Texture and luster, upper and lower surfaces.—Smooth,             glabrous; glossy.         -   Venation pattern.—Pinnate, reticulate.         -   Color.—Developing leaves, upper surface: Darker than 143A.             Developing leaves, lower surface: Close to between 143C and             146B. Full expanded leaves, upper surface: Darker than             between N137A and 147A; venation, close to 143B. Fully             expanded leaves, lower surface: Close to between 146A and             146B; venation, close to 144B.         -   Petiole length.—About 1 cm.         -   Petiole diameter.—About 3 mm to 4 mm.         -   Petiole strength.—Moderately strong to strong.         -   Petiole texture, upper and lower surfaces.—Smooth, glabrous.         -   Petiole color, upper and lower surfaces.—Close to 144B. -   Flower description:     -   -   Flower type and flowering habit.—Single salverform flowers             arranged in terminal and axillary cymes; flowers star-shaped             and face mostly upright and outwardly; freely flowering             habit with about eight flowers developing per inflorescence             and about 120 flowers developing per plant during the             flowering season.         -   Natural flowering season.—Plants flower continuously from             early summer into the autumn in France.         -   Flower longevity on the plant.—About seven days; flowers not             persistent.         -   Fragrance.—None detected.         -   Inflorescence height.—About 15.9 cm.         -   Inflorescence diameter.—About 13.7 cm.         -   Flower buds.—Length: About 6.5 cm. Diameter: About 1.3 cm.             Shape: Narrowly obovate. Color: Close to between 73D and             155A; towards the apex, close to 73C; towards the base,             close to between 68C and 73B; at the base, close to 144B.         -   Flowers.—Appearance: Flared trumpet, corolla fused and             five-parted. Diameter: About 8.1 cm. Depth (length): About             6.6 cm. Tube length: About 4.6 cm.         -   Corolla.—Quantity and arrangement: Five petals arranged in a             single whorl and fused towards the base. Petal length: About             8.3 cm. Petal width: About 4 cm. Petal shape and appearance:             Roughly spatulate; lower 55% of the petal is fused into a             tube; free part, moderately to strongly reflexed. Petal             apex: Non-symmetrically acute. Petal margin: Entire to             irregularly shallowly praemorse. Petal texture and luster,             upper surface: Smooth, glabrous; moderately velvety; matte.             Petal texture and luster, lower surface: Smooth, glabrous;             slightly glossy. Throat and tube texture: Smooth, glabrous.             Color: Petal, when opening, upper surface: Close to 65C to             65D; towards the throat, strongly tinged with close to 58B;             throat, close to 13A and 6A; at the base of the throat,             close to 145B. Petal, when opening, lower surface: Close to             between 69C and 75D; towards the tube, close to 68B; tube,             close to 145D. Petal, fully opened, upper surface: Close to             between 73C, 73D and 75C; towards the throat, strongly             tinged with close to 58B; throat, close to 13A and 6A; at             the base of the throat, close to 145A; with development,             main color becoming closer to 73B and 73C. Petal, fully             opened, lower surface: Close to between 69C and 75D; towards             the tube, close to 68B to 68D; tube, close to 144C.         -   Corona.—Quantity and arrangement: Five sepals arranged in a             single whorl. Sepal length: About 6 mm. Sepal width: About             2 mm. Sepal shape: Lanceolate. Sepal apex: Narrowly             acuminate. Sepal base: Roughly truncate. Sepal margin:             Entire. Sepal texture and luster, upper and lower surfaces:             Smooth, glabrous; matte. Sepal color: Immature, upper             surface: Close to 144B; towards the margins, close to 185B.             Immature, lower surface: Close to 144A to 144B; towards the             margins, close to 185B. Mature, upper surface: Close to 144B             to 144C; towards the margins, close to 185B. Mature, lower             surface: Close to 144B; towards the margins, close to 185B.         -   Peduncles.—Length: About 12 cm. Diameter: About 2.5 mm.             Texture: Smooth, glabrous. Strength: Strong. Color: Close to             143C.         -   Pedicels.—Length: About 1.9 cm. Diameter: About 2 mm.             Texture: Smooth, glabrous. Strength: Strong. Color: Close to             144B.         -   Reproductive organs.—Stamens: Quantity and arrangement:             Typically five; basifixed; anthers connivent. Filament             length: About 1 mm. Anther shape: Narrowly oblong. Anther             length: About 6 mm. Anther color: Close to 160B to 160C.             Pollen amount: None observed. Pistils: Quantity: Typically             one. Pistil length: About 2.1 cm. Style length: About             1.9 cm. Style color: Close to 176D. Stigma shape: Sagittate.             Stigma color: Close to 144C. Ovary color: Close to 144C.         -   Seeds and fruits.—Seed and fruit production have not been             observed on plants of the new Mandevilla. -   Disease & pest resistance: Plants of the new Mandevilla have not     been noted to be resistant to pathogens and pests common to     Mandevilla plants. -   Temperature tolerance: Plants of the new Mandevilla have been     observed to tolerate high temperatures of about 40° C. and to be     hardy to USDA Hardiness Zone 9. 

It is claimed:
 1. A new and distinct Mandevilla plant named ‘Lanvirginia’ as illustrated and described. 